New security arrangements and Camera bags

[Ali and boyz]

is the airports or the travel companies who are strict i.e. my sons has medical stuff we need to take on board TA is phoning the travel company today but just had a thought if it is the airports that are restricting what would you do

 

[Lisa1976]

We had a nightmare in February with Virgin. We had our DSLR camera bag at the bottom of a rucsack, a pull along small case and my handbag. The check in woman wouldn't even let me put my handbag in my husband's rucsack, i had to empty the contents of it into the rucsack and then put the handbag itself into the hold luggage.

It turns out that the small pull along suitcase that they advertise as ideal for hand luggage was nearly 7kgs itself.

Not an ideal situation, but we got there in the end.

 

[wayneg]

Thats crazy, why not let you put the handbag in?
I had a situation with Thomsons from Newcastle to Ibiza about 3 years ago, Hand luggage was 5kg pp. I had camera bag within the size rules and weighed less than 10kg (5kg each) they had us splitting the contents into 2 to be weighed we then walked away from the desk and put them back together. Why? what difference does it make.
The world going mad.

 

[richard_andmel]

That Lowepro bag looks good, but has anyone treid putting a 17" widescreen laptop in it? I have had other bags before by companies claiming their bag fits most 17" laptops and it doesn't fit mine... I can check the measurements, just wondering how tight a fit it felt.

 

[Goofyish]

That Lowepro bag looks good, but has anyone treid putting a 17" widescreen laptop in it? I have had other bags before by companies claiming their bag fits most 17" laptops and it doesn't fit mine... I can check the measurements, just wondering how tight a fit it felt.

Laptop pocket size is:

31 x 4.5 x 40.5 cm

 

[stephensmum]

Ohhh I'm so glad I've looked at this thread it makes me glad that we always try to pack light.We never take our Mac book we update everything on our return.
In the past DH has taken the camera camcorder and the usual accessories in a Timberland backpack which had a few pockets and extra padding I took the travel documents sweets and snacks etc and DS had his Nintendo DS with games etc.
All our clothes went in just 2 suitcases and still had a bit of room for anything we bought over there, people in the airport used to say "Is that all you have?" Quick and easy we get through check-in in about 5 minutes even the hand luggage is scanned in under 10 minutes at the security screening and most of that is waiting in the queue so far we've not had any problems although DH is always pulled out of the line and scanned again
This year DH has a man's small brown shoulder bag (£8 in Peacocks) for the camera and camcorder and accessories and I have an expandable handbag for the paperwork etc and Ds will have his usual stuff (which will have to be removed from the bag for screening but it's fine).
All our bags will be smaller than the dimensions stated on the VA website and will not take up much space in the overhead storage compartments. We have a few more clothes this year but we'll still only take 2 suitcases

3 of us travelling, allowed 20kg each, can we put into 2 suitcases? My mum & dad went to N Y & had under 20kg in 1 case & over in the other. Thay got charged excess baggage.

 

[AliceGardner]

According to Virgin's website (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/baggagebypiece.jsp), you are allowed up to 2 pieces up to 23kg each per person (not 20kg).

With regard to having one piece over and one piece under, then technically no this is not allowed. The weight is a maximum per piece and cannot be pooled. Whether or not you will be charged (or whether they will "let it slide") will come down to the personality and mood of the agent checking you in...

If you are over and they threaten to charge you, you could either repack the two cases (so they are under the 23kg limit) OR pack the excess into a holdall and check that in (so you would then have 3 pieces under 23kg to check-in).

Alice

 

[wayneg]

According to Virgin's website (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/baggagebypiece.jsp), you are allowed up to 2 pieces up to 23kg each per person (not 20kg).

With regard to having one piece over and one piece under, then technically no this is not allowed. The weight is a maximum per piece and cannot be pooled. Whether or not you will be charged (or whether they will "let it slide") will come down to the personality and mood of the agent checking you in...

If you are over and they threaten to charge you, you could either repack the two cases (so they are under the 23kg limit) OR pack the excess into a holdall and check that in (so you would then have 3 pieces under 23kg to check-in).

Alice

I think companies like TCD still only allow 1 case with 20kg.
Yes they do just found it, you can pay an extra £15 to double it to 40kg.

 

[AliceGardner]

I think companies like TCD still only allow 1 case with 20kg.
Yes they do just found it, you can pay an extra £15 to double it to 40kg.

WHy did I think she was travelling Virgin...? Sorry about that, moment of insanity...

40kg in one case is crazy - not only from a Health and Safety point of view for baggage handlers, but also for the passenger who has to lift it in and out of a car boot... either that, or I am a weakling...

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

WHy did I think she was travelling Virgin...? Sorry about that, moment of insanity...

40kg in one case is crazy - not only from a Health and Safety point of view for baggage handlers, but also for the passenger who has to lift it in and out of a car boot... either that, or I am a weakling...

Alice

No airport will allow you to have a 40KG case anyway. New H & s rules forbid any case above 32Kgs

 

[wayneg]

sorry did it sound like 40kg in one case?
TCD only allow you to take 1 x 20kg if you pay £15 then they allow 2 x 20kg

 

[AliceGardner]

sorry did it sound like 40kg in one case?
TCD only allow you to take 1 x 20kg if you pay £15 then they allow 2 x 20kg

That's what it sounded like...

Yes, 2 x 20kg cases makes much more sense. It doesn't make sense to have anything over 32kg, even if it was legal - way too heavy...

Still, shows the importance of getting light suitcases/bags - if you case weighs 6.5kg and you only have 20kg per peiece allowance, you can't take much inside the case...

Alice

 

[wicket2005]

We have always followed the rule of one piece of hand luggage of a certain measurement and weight. This hasn't just come in as far as I know, I just think they are being more strict about it because I have always seen it on tickets. I think the weight rule for hand luggage is for safety if it flys around the cabin.

We only take one hard bodied case now and 3 extremely light holdalls, two of which are packed in the case. Each year we get lighter going and heavier coming back, in more ways than one.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Just ordered one of those Lowepro Compudaypack rucksacks. Jessops and other companies wanted £99 for one, (that was also using Price check web sites) even EBay was asking £69.95 + £7.95
Cheapest place (though only available in Grey, OK for me at this price!) was Amazon at £54.75 plus £5.00 P + p!!

Anyone who wants one the url is
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-349...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1179688579&sr=8-1

Thanks tashasmum XXXX

Just an update, the bag arrived today from Germany, only four days from ordering, great service.
Yes a 17" laptop does fit easily into the rucksack

 

[Goofyish]

Just an update, the bag arrived today from Germany, only four days from ordering, great service.
Yes a 17" laptop does fit easily into the rucksack

Mine came this morning too!

My work laptop is only a 14" WS DELL one, so fits easy. Haven't tried DWs 15" WS one yet.

First impressions are very good - nice build quality and good quality materials.There seems to be plenty of room in the camera compartment.
There's a nice front pocket for MP3 player with a small headphone outlet.
Plenty of little pockets inside for nick-nacks as well.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Mine came this morning too!

My work laptop is only a 14" WS DELL one, so fits easy. Haven't tried DWs 15" WS one yet.

First impressions are very good - nice build quality and good quality materials.There seems to be plenty of room in the camera compartment.
There's a nice front pocket for MP3 player with a small headphone outlet.
Plenty of little pockets inside for nick-nacks as well.

Nice isn't it?
Just to clarify, my 17" laptop is a widscreen Sony Vaio and fits easily.

haven't tried my DSLR in it yet, along with the flash gun....

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Guess what arrived at my door this morning? DH has been on ebay again

Yep - door bell rang and low and behold a package containing a Lowepro Compudaypack rucksack!

Dh tells me he found it on a general auction and contacted the seller to see if he could 'buy it now' - seller agreed and he got it for £40 + delivery so I will have to admit it was a good deal

The lap-top fits in very nicely too.

 

[redz]

I use this lot for my custom made camera bags, custom made inserts and the like, lenses etc kept safe and sound the last 2 trips, and theyre based near Heathrow, handy for those of us not staying in the London area, you can pick up before you fly.
Click the link.

http://www.cpcases.com
redz

 

[Disney owl]

WE flew in FEb to Vegas & though strict with only 1 piece of hand luggage each they never measured ours.

I took camera & film through OK & got both out of bag & asked it it was okFor them to go through the scanner. When they said yes I just put them through & repacked them in my bag when they came out.

 

[Cyrano]

Nice isn't it?
Just to clarify, my 17" laptop is a widscreen Sony Vaio and fits easily.

haven't tried my DSLR in it yet, along with the flash gun....

Would be interested in knowing if this worked well once you tried camera and kit